The Slits: lady-punk legends to return with first full-length since 1981

Punk rock hasn’t always been a welcoming place for women, but all-girl British quartet the Slits earned their rightful place on the rarified list that includes Siouxsie Sioux, Debbie Harry, the Germs’ Lorna Doom, the Plasmatics’ Wendy O and the countless acolytes they spawned.

Their gloriously raucous, reggae-tinged sound earned them an opening slot for the Clash’s White Riot tour when singer Ari Up was only 15; their 1979 debut Cut remains an early classic of the era; and the 2006 EP Revenge of the Killer Slits was actually pretty great (though the crowd seemed sadly unappreciative when they opened for Sonic Youth at Brooklyn’s McCarren Pool the following year).

Long story short, the ladies are back this October with a brand-new full-length, Trapped Animal, featuring original members Ari Up and Tessa Pollit along with new additions Hollie Cook (who happens to be the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook), Anna Schulte and Adele Wilson, and I’m excited.

Also, I still listen to their deeply awesome version of “Heard It Through the Grapevine” roughly once a month, and that’s coming from someone with an almost poison-oak-like aversion to messing with Motown classics. Listen below, and tell me if you’re excited too:

More from EW’s Music Mix:
Pixies plan ‘Doolittle’ tour
Pink sings for Spongebob’s tenth birthday: We’ve got scurvy!
Spoon surprise fans with a brand new EP